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What religious text do Jews read?

Asked by weeveeship (4665points) January 3rd, 2011

I know that the Jews’ main religious text is the Tanakh (Torah+Nevi’im+Ketuvim). I heard that the Tanakh is equivalent to the Christians’ Old Testament. I also heard that the Jews have the Talmud, but this question focuses on the Tanakh.

First of all, do Jews usually read the Tanakh? Or is reading the Tanakh reserved for the priests or for special occasions?

Second of all, do Jews read the Tanakh in the original Hebrew (or some derivative, such as Yiddish) or do they read the book in the vernacular (i.e. local) language, such as in English or Spanish?

If the Jews read the book in the local language, would a Jew ever read the Old Testament of the Christian Bible (and just not read the New Testament) or is there commercially available translations of just the Tanakh?

Many thanks for your help.

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